New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas and Assistant GM Rex Hogan met with the media on Tuesday, April 25.
At the end of that 21-minute session, Douglas was asked bluntly about the future of veteran wide receiver Corey Davis and whether or not he will be on the team in 2023.
“When we talk about great teammates, Corey is a great teammate. Corey is selfless and an unbelievable worker. He’s a great professional for some of our young guys to look up to. We all know there is a business aspect to football but Corey is a valued member of this team and franchise.”
.@Connor_J_Hughes bluntly asked #Jets GM Joe Douglas if Corey Davis is going to be on the team in 2023? JD waxed poetic about him as a teammate & a leader but then said ‘we all know there’s a business aspect to football but Corey’s a valued member of this team’ 🧐 🎥 @nyjets
Joe Douglas Provides Interesting Answer to Jets-Corey Davis Question
Connor Hughes of SNY asked a pretty blunt black-and-white question of Douglas: will Davis be here?
Instead of answering it, JD waxed poetic about the kind of teammate Davis is and how other players can look up to him in the locker room.
The one very interesting nugget of information he randomly dropped was explaining how we all know there is a “business aspect” to football.
What does that mean?
Did JD strongly hint at a potential pay cut for his veteran wideout to stay on the roster in 2023?
The 28-year-old is entering the last year of his $37.5 million contract in 2023. He is set to make $10.5 million in base salary and if the Jets cut ties with him they’d only eat $666,667 in dead cap.
On the Badlands Podcast, co-host Joe Caporoso floated one potential option for the team to consider.
In the summer of 2021, the Jets approached veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder about a pay cut. He was set to make over $10 million in nonguaranteed money. Gang Green offered him half of that total ($5 million) but they would fully guarantee it.
JC got some financial security and the team saved some money. It was a win-win for both sides. Caporoso argued the Jets could employ a similar strategy with Davis this offseason.
OBJ Jets Pursuit Reveals the Truth About WR Room
Douglas had some nice things to say about Davis during his pre-draft presser, but actions speak far louder than words.
Throughout the offseason, the Jets were very open about its hot and heavy pursuit of free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Ultimately they didn’t land him, but their aggression in pursuing him reveals that they aren’t satisfied with the wide receiver room.
Here are all of the main wide receivers currently listed on the Jets roster sheet:
- Garrett Wilson
- Allen Lazard
- Mecole Hardman
- Corey Davis
- Denzel Mims
Wilson was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft he ain’t going anywhere. Lazard and Hardman were both brought in as free agents this cycle, they’re here to stay.
Then sprinkle in OBJ, if he would have signed here, where would Davis have fit on that depth chart? It seems like he would have been a likely straight-up cut candidate based on reading the room.
Things can change in the NFL and with OBJ not coming to New York that has given Davis new life here with the Jets. However, with the 2023 NFL draft looming, Douglas’ words on Davis didn’t seem to inspire a strong vote of confidence for his future here with the team.
If Gang Green selects a wideout early, it could be curtain calls for Davis.
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Jets Turn Heads With Cryptic Message on 19-Game Starter